Tuesday, July 26, 2011

W o l f V a l l e y

Most of us know gray wolves by their haunting calls and piercing eyes.
But take a closer look inside those eyes and you'll see one of Mother
Nature's most important yet misunderstood family members--one whose
future is now at risk. Learn about the wolf's fierce loyalty to its
pack, its irreplaceable role in the wild, and the role you can play to
help. One of Busch Gardens’ wolf trainers has started blogging about
her amazing experiences in the park’s Wolf Valley. Now anyone who’s
ever wondered what it’s like to be part of a wolf pack can read all
about it at their blog.

“Aww… the wolves are howling because they’re hungry.”

Actually, wolves howl as a social sign of
contentment. Howling is situational, but is very much a form of social
bonding. They will howl to relocate a lost pack mate, call the pack
together, ward off a rival pack or sometimes even just for fun and out
of excitement. But chances are if they are howling, they are looking for
more voices to join in. So next time you hear it, go ahead and howl
right back.

“If I fell down there they’d try to eat me, right?”

It is highly unlikely. Wolves don’t view
people as food. Out in the wild a wolf will flee from a human presence
up to a mile away. Since our wolves have been socialized, they don’t
fear people, however, they are very cautious of sudden or new things.
They would probably be startled and run away. If you were in there for a
prolonged period of time, they would probably be curious about your
hat, sunglasses, bag, etc. It is unlikely they would harm you, unless
they felt threatened or challenged.

“Are they basically big dogs since they are trained?”

That is absolutely false. You wouldn’t
consider a trained tiger to be a house cat, would you? Just because a
wild animal has been socialized and trained does not make it a domestic
animal. A tiger is still a tiger. And just because a wolf looks a lot
like a dog doesn’t make it any less of a wolf. Dogs have been bred for
thousands of years to co-exist with humans and view us as pack leaders –
they are basically eternal puppies. When a wolf puppy matures, it no
longer wants to submit to authority. It will challenge its pack mates
for rank and use aggression if necessary. A mature wolf will look for
weaknesses and even take out its own parents if it sees the opportunity.
This is hardwired into their biology. Do you want to be the parent that it takes out? I thought not.

How do we avoid this dilemma? Simple, we
are not pack mates. We never dominate the wolves; we never expect them
to want to please us. We never punish or discipline them. By not acting
as pack mates, they don’t feel the need to “steal” rank from us. We have
no rank. If you lived with a wolf, it would have no choice but to view
you as a pack mate.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Earth Day, April 22, 2011. SeaWorld debuted its new Shamu show "One Ocean". Special guest, Jungle Jack Hanna, opened the show with Sea World Park President Terry Prather. Here are the Higlights. Watch Episode 22 of Orlando Attractions Magazine The Show for more coverage and interviews.

"Believe blends unique killer whale behaviors with elaborate set pieces, state-of-the-art multimedia, music and choreography taking guests on a journey in which anyone believes they can connect with these magnificent mammals. This inspirational show also accentuates the close relationship Sea World trainers have with the killer whales, and will amaze you!"

Monday, April 18, 2011

Update: Just confirmed for May-Hem...Voltaire is coming back to Orlando!

Wyndham Orlando Resort Memorial Day weekend, May 27 to 29. This is the way to go!!! Spooky Empire, the organization behind the annual Ultimate Horror Weekend each fall, has added a second show, May-Hem.

The event will feature a 30th Anniversary reunion of The Evil Dead cast, featuring Bruce Campbell, as well as the Ladies of Evil Dead. Other guests include cast members from Army of Darkness, Evil Dead II, the Boondock Saints films, and the AMC series Walking Dead. Anthony Michael Hall, of Breakfast Club fame and the TV series The Dead Zone, will also be appearing.

Orlando, FL - Spooky Empire wanted to get the party started early in 2011. So they have put together one hell of a second show, coming in May of 2011. They are ready to rock the doors off the Wyndham Orlando Resort with sickest guest lineup on the convention scene so far! This event, appropriately called Spooky Empire's May-Hem, makes its home at the Wyndham Orlando Resort on May 27-29, 2011. Spooky Empire is fast becoming one of the most popular horror event companies in the U.S. with fans coming from all over the world to attend. Last years October show was monstrous, with the most fans in attendance so far. So make your Memorial Day weekend plans now and come on out!

Their amazing guest line up includes a 30th Anniversary Reunion of The Evil Dead! Including horror icon Bruce Campbell, best known for his roles in The Evil Dead films, Army of Darkness, Xena, Bubba Ho-Tep, My Name is Bruce, and his newest project, Burn Notice, the #1 rated series on cable. Bruce will be joined by The Ladies of the Evil Dead; Betsy Baker, Ellen Sandweiss, and Sarah York, as well as Ted Raimi, Hal Delrich, and Special FX artist Tom Sullivan. From the Army of Darkness film, Timothy Quill will be appearing and from Evil Dead II, Danny Hicks.

That's not the only cast lineup at May-Hem. For all of you Boondock Saints fans, come out and meet the stars, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus and David Della Rocco. Sean Patrick Flanery is known for many other films and television projects including Powder, The Young Indiana Jones, The Dead Zone and Saw 3D. Norman Reedus is most currently starring in the AMC series, The Walking Dead.

Added to this already incredible lineup is Alex Winter best known for his part in The Lost Boys and even better as "Bill S. Preston, Esq." in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Cult Fiction icon Bob Wall from legendary Bruce Lee films including "Enter the Dragon" will be making a rare convention appearance as well as the beautiful Diora Baird, one of Maxim's Hot 100 of 2007 and 2008. She has starred in films such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and Night of the Demons. Michael Kenworthy "Jesse Wilson" in Return of the Living Dead:II" will be in attendance as well as Erin Grey of Buck Rogers fame, as well as Jason Goes to Hell and of course Silver Spoons.

Last but certainly not least, the most recent and most exciting addition to May-Hem, Anthony Michael Hall. His long list of unforgettable projects spans 3 decades! Including The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Johnny Be Good, National Lampoons Vacation, Edward Scissorhands, the television series The Dead Zone, and the list goes on. Hall is making a rare appearance at May-Hem and will be in attendance all three days of the event! Don't miss out on this opportunity to meet him!

How can there be a Spooky Empire event without the life of the party, Bill Hinzman, the original Zombie. Bill will be hosting the Friday night kickoff event, The Dead Man's Party, by the pool. Some of the events taking place Friday night will be bands, DJ's, and a most original Zombie Costume Contest with $500 in cash prizes! The weekend will also be packed full of panels and Q&A's hosted by the many Celebrity Guests in attendance.

Advance tickets for this ultimate event are available now! $50 gets you in for the whole weekend, that's all three days of May-Hem! One day passes are just $30 and $35. VIP packages for $199 are still available but going fast. Visit the website www.spookyempire.com.

The Wyndham has extended an amazing rate of $59 a night to attendees if you mention "Spooky Empire" when you call for reservations. Make sure you reserve your rooms early, at this great rate they won't last! The Wyndham reservation line is 1-800-421-8001.

Join the legions of Spooky Empire fans on their Forum at www.spookyempire.com. Meet other fans, get answers to your questions, and find out the most recent updates on the show. You can also find and keep up with Spooky Empire on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Shamu is a stage name that Sea World uses for any of the adult (male or female) killer whales in their shows and many stories exist about the origin of Shamu's name. One revolves around the first collected killer whale that was named Namu after a British Columbian town. When Sea World welcomed its first killer whale, it was named Shamu, for "She-Namu".

Namu is accidentally snared in a fisherman's gill net near Namu, British Columbia, Canada. Ted Griffin, the young owner of the Seattle Public Aquarium buys Namu for $8,000 cash. The bull killer whale is the first captive orca to perform for the public. Namu dies in July 1966 - 11 months later - due to an infection from polluted water in his pen.

Captured by Ted Griffin in Puget Sound in 1965, Shamu was intended to be a companion for the orca Namu in Griffin's Seattle aquarium. Shamu was however quickly leased and eventually sold to SeaWorld in San Diego.

As the fourth killer whale ever captured (the second female), Shamu was the third orca ever displayed in a public exhibit. She was the first orca to survive more than 13 months in captivity and after her death in 1971 (from an unspecified infection), the name Shamu continued to be used in Sea World "Shamu" orca shows for different killer whales in different Sea World parks.

T H E B A B Y S H A M U

Kalina (September 26, 1985 – October 4, 2010) was the first captive-born Orca calf to survive more than a few days. Kalina's mother is an Icelandic female named Katina, and her father, Winston (also known as Ramu III) was a Pacific Southern Resident, making Kalina an Atlantic/Pacific hybrid — a unique situation that would not have occurred in the wild. Kalina measures 17 feet 9 inches (5.41 m) and weighs approximately 6,300 pounds (2,900 kg).

Kalina first appeared in shows at SeaWorld Orlando in 1987, billed as "Baby Shamu", performing with her mother. On February 12, 1990, Kalina was transferred to Sea World Ohio. She was moved again in October of that year to Sea World San Diego, and again on May 30, 1991 to Sea World San Antonio. In October 1994, Kalina was moved back to Sea World Orlando, where she lived with eight other killer whales, including her mother and a half sister.

Kalina gave birth to her first calf, a male named Keet, on February 2, 1993 at Sea World Texas. Kalina was only seven and a half years old at the time of Keet's birth — an extremely young age for an Orca to become a mother. Kalina became pregnant again shortly after Keet's birth, and was moved back to SeaWorld Orlando in October 1994, where she gave birth to her second calf, another male, Keto on June 17, 1995. She gave birth to another male, Tuar, on June 22, 1999. Kalina bore her fourth calf and first daughter, on February 9, 2004, named Skyla. Skyla is now at Loro Parque.

Kalina was a gentle whale, learned quickly, and was used a lot in shows. She was used as a "starter whale" for new trainers. She never showed any signs of aggression towards her trainers or other orcas. Prior to Taima's unexpected death on June 6, 2010, Kalina could be seen swimming with her and Malia, Taima's calf and the youngest orca at Orlando. On Monday October 4, 2010, less than four months after Taima's death, Kalina died of Preacute Bacteremia Septicemia at the age of 25.

A healthy adult killer whale is an apex (top) predator in the ocean; it can prey on anything that lives in the sea (even a White Shark – See video Bellow), but has no predators of its own. Some killer whales are even known to prey on other species of whales. At one time, people called them "whale killers," which was eventually modified into killer whales.

Each adult killer whale at Sea World receives 140 to 240 pounds of food per day. Among the types most often fed are herring, capelin, salmon, mackerel, and occasionally others. Fish is always kept refrigerator and well-iced to help maintain the highest husbandry standards.

Each animal is fed at random amounts at random intervals throughout the day. To provide a high level of mental and physical stimulation, it is important to vary feeding times and amounts for mental stimulation.

Five types of training sessions known as PLESR (pronounced pleasure) were defined: play, in which anything goes; learning, when new behaviours are taught; exercise; socialization, in which animals interact with several trainers to simulate a pod; and relationship, when the animal and trainer spend time one-on-one to strengthen their bond.

Bruce Stephens, former director of animal behaviour for Sea World in San Diego and now a consultant to marine parks, says orcas have hurt him dozens of times but he still doesn't hesitate to jump into the water. "Any person who has trained these animals has been thumped, bumped, bruised, bitten and otherwise abused over the course of time," he told Nancy Cleeland of The San Diego Union. "It happens to everyone." He said that "you have to appreciate the potential for danger" but the record has "really been quite good for orcas - especially when you consider that about 40 people a year are killed in accidents with elephants."

O T H E R F A M O U S W H A L E S

K A T I N A

Katina is the one in the Middle

Katina is a female who lives in SeaWorld Orlando. She was captured near Iceland at about two years of age on October 26, 1978. She is healthy and the most successful breeding female Orca in captivity. At 16 feet 4 inches (4.98 m) and about 5,600 pounds (2,500 kg), Katina is small compared to other females, but she is rather bulky.

Upon her capture, Katina was purchased by Marineland (Ontario). In 1979, Katina was bought by SeaWorld and was sent to their park in San Diego. In 1982, Katina was moved to Sea World Ohio in Aurora, Ohio with another female named Kasatka, with whom she was captured in 1978. For two years, the two would perform in the Ohio park during the summer months and then be moved back to San Diego for the winter. Finally, in 1984, Katina was transferred to the SeaWorld in Orlando.

Katina became pregnant in early spring of 1984 at SeaWorld San Diego from a male named Winston. Soon after, she was moved back to Sea World Ohio for the summer. The trainers soon realized she was pregnant, so she was moved to Orlando at the end of the summer season, where she gave birth on September 26, 1985 to a female who was named Kalina. Although ten Orca calves had been born in captivity prior to Kalina, none had survived past a few weeks. Kalina was the first Orca calf to be successfully born and raised in captivity. Kalina was taken from her mother at 4 years 5 months and conducted on a trip around all four SeaWorld parks.

In early 1987, an adult male named Kanduke arrived in Orlando. He and Katina soon mated. Katina bore her second calf on November 4, 1988, a female named Katerina. In early 1991 at a very early age Katerina was transferred out of Orlando. Katerina died on May 5, 1999 at SeaWorld San Antonio at 10.5 years of age. A male named Tilikum came to SeaWorld in January 1992. It wasn't long before Katina was pregnant again. She gave birth to her first son on September 9, 1993, named Taku. Katina's next calf came on December 27, 1996, a female named Unna. Her fifth calf was a male born on August 25, named Ikaika. Unna, Ikaika, and Taku were all fathered by Tilikum. Katina gave birth to her sixth calf, a female named Nalani, on September 18, 2006. The calf appears to be in good health and is now appearing in shows with Katina.

Katina is an excellent performer and is very reliable, putting on performances daily. Katina is sweet-natured and patient and has never been involved in any incidents with handlers. Being the matriarch of the Orcas, Katina is rather dominant. She can sometimes, although rarely, be stubborn and refuse to perform. When this happens, usually all of the other Orcas follow suit. Katina only lives with two of her seven calves (Nalani and Makaio) and one of her grandchildren (Trua). She is always with her calf, but is also with Nalani and Kayla quite often. She is grouped with her son Makaio, Trua, Malia, Nalani and Kayla.

Katina appeared on a That's My Baby episode, where she gave birth to Ikaika.

Katina gave birth to her seventh calf, Makaio on October 9, 2010 at 7:28 p.m. The great-grandmother went into labor at 6:47 p.m. and delivered a 7-foot (2.1 m)-long, 350-pound male calf. He swam to the surface moments later for his first breath

T I L I K U M

Tilikum (the largest orca in captivity and the most successful sire in captivity as well) lives in Sea World Orlando and he has long been known as the whale with the biggest splash, prompting many to buy ponchos outside the stadium so that they could sit in the front row and take all that the orca had to offer.

Following a year long hiatus after his third killing, Tilikum returned to performing at SeaWorld Orlando on 30 March 2011.

First incident
While at Sealand, on February 21, 1991, Tilikum was involved in an incident which resulted in the death of a female trainer. The trainer slipped and fell into the tank with the whales. Tilikum, pregnant Haida II, and Nootka IV grabbed her in their mouths and tossed her to each other, presumably playing. The trainer subsequently drowned. The orcas had never had humans in the water with them before. Both females were pregnant at the time which was not known to the trainers.

Second incident
Tilikum was at the scene of a death on July 6, 1999. Daniel P. Dukes (Danny Dukes), a 27-year-old who grew up in Austin, TX, was found floating naked in Tilikum’s pool. Dukes had visited SeaWorld the previous day, stayed after the park closed, and evaded security to enter the orca tank. Investigators determined that Dukes supposedly bit Tilikum, and Hypothermia was listed as Duke's main cause of death. Dukes had been living in South Carolina and Texas prior to the incident.

Third incident
On February 24, 2010 Tilikum was involved in a third incident, when he killed Dawn Brancheau, a 40-year-old trainer with 16 years of experience at SeaWorld. The trainer was drowned following a popular 'Dine with Shamu' show as at least two dozen tourists looked on from above a whale tank and from an underwater viewing area. Employees used nets and threw food at the whale in an attempt to distract him.

Moving from pool to pool in the complex, they eventually captured Tilikum and released Brancheau's body, before realizing that the whale still had her arm. A SeaWorld executive confirmed what witnesses saw, that Tilikum pulled the trainer into the water by her ponytail, possibly mistaking it for a fish or thinking it was a toy. Brancheau's autopsy indicated death by drowning and blunt force trauma. The autopsy noted that her spinal cord was severed and she sustained fractures to her jawbone, ribs and to a cervical vertebra.

On August 23, 2010, the park was fined US$75,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for three safety violations, two directly related to Brancheau's death. SeaWorld issued a statement that called OSHA's findings "unfounded".

Tilikum returned to performing on March 30, 2011. The trainers no longer work closely with him, and no trainers are allowed in the water with him. High pressure hoses are used to direct the whales, and guardrails and safety nets have also been installed in the pool. There are plans to install false-bottom floors that can lift trainers and whales out of the pools in under a minute.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Update: April 12, 2011 - Beneath the Surface:‬‪The Making of SeaWorld's New Killer Whale Show "One Ocean"‬‪

SeaWorld parks across the U.S. will soon debut an all-new Shamu show this spring and summer, connecting you and your family to the sea with a new level of energy, excitement and vibrancy as it educates and inspires you to make a difference in this world.

“One Ocean” features SeaWorld’s majestic killer whales as ambassadors of the sea, and the ocean as the center of our natural world. The show connects you with these remarkable animals and immerses the you in the vivid colors and sensations of the underwater world. At the core of the show is the unifying message that both animals and humans are part of one world, with one ocean, and its future is in our hands to cherish and protect.

This new show is what you love about our parks – thrilling entertainment that educates and inspires you to celebrate, connect and care for the world we share.

One Ocean features spectacular whale behaviors, including thrilling high-energy leaps and multiple whales performing simultaneously. The whales interact in new ways with trainers, the audience, each other, and even the set itself. In one segment, the whales play amid giant fountains.

Shamu Stadium – with its three-story set, panoramic LED screens and hundreds of surround-sound speakers – will feature special effects that envelop you in the show experience, including brilliantly colored lights; soaring fountains; stunning underwater imagery and an original, contemporary musical score with global rhythms.

But even more important is the educational message the show imparts: we are all part of one world and have the power to make a difference. The message of caring and respect for the world we share is woven throughout the show – encouraging guests to make a difference through their own everyday actions.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

As explorers, merchants, adventurers and travelers from around the globe pass through Universal's Islands of Adventure's Port of Entry they not only bring with them strange and unusual items – frequently confiscated and put on display by the local authorities – but also delightful and exotic dishes which you'll find on the menu at Confisco Grille.

Confisco's chefs have incorporated tastes from around the world. You'll find Italian, Mexican, Asian, Greek, and American inspired dishes including grilled sandwiches, burgers, salads, fajitas, ribs, pizza and pasta, plus full bar service. A children’s menu is available. On select days Confisco Grille is the setting for Character Breakfasts featuring many of your favorite Islands of Adventure theme park characters. Adjacent to Confisco Grille is the Backwater Bar, a tropical dive where you can enjoy cocktails and appetizers while you trade tales of your day’s adventures.

Confisco Grille Dining Information

Character Dining

Best for Families

Hours: Breakfast and lunch daily

Character Breakfast: until 10:30 am each Thursday and Sunday (reservations required) Click here for more Character Dining Information.

Character Breakfast Reservations: use our NEW email character breakfast reservation system at diningreservations@universalorlando.com. It's easy. Just send us your name, contact telephone number, party size, date and time you'd like to attend. We'll respond within 72 hours with a confirmation.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays! It’s Christmas 365 days a year in this festive store which features delightful character-inspired Christmas tree ornaments, decorations, holiday themed DVDs, souvenirs and gifts.

"For many, shopping is an adventure in itself. Here in the Port of Entry® you can go on an expedition for strange and exotic wares from around the world, or just stock up on items you may need as you explore the wonders of Islands of Adventure."

If there’s a sweeter spot on the entire planet, we haven’t found it. Stock up on homemade fudge, caramel apples, cookies, chocolate, candy and more. You’ll find Universal apparel and souvenirs for sale as well.

Restaurants

Confisco Grille

Croissant Moon Bakery

Cinnabon

Arctic Express

Croissant Moon Bakery

The moon may not be full, but your belly will be after a stop at the Croissant Moon Bakery. Enjoy savory Deli Sandwiches, Paninis, Freshly Baked Pastries, and Cheesecakes. A great breakfast stop before your day’s journeys!

Hours: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily Service Type: Counter Service